Connection for structural members



T B. MOREHOUSE CONNECTION FOR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1954 TERRY B.MOREHOUSE INVENTOR v ATTORNEY y 1 B. MOREHOUSE 2,042,353

CONNECTION FOR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed Nov. 5, 1934' I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 26, 1936 TUNITED .s'rArTE-s :PATE NLT .orFLcE CONNECTION FOR. STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Terry Bryan Morehouse; West-Hempsteatl, -N. Y.

..--.Application November 5, 1934, Serial;No.:-751,464

. 18 Claims. (Cl; 189- 36) 1 This invention relatestoia'structural.joint and more particularly to suclra joint which-may" be 1.:readilyrattached and detached" and. which. shall abet rigid when attached. .Therinvention particu- 5... :1arlyrcontemplates joining of two metallic struc- 1. dual :pieces without the..use of: a. third .or fasten- -:ingtpiece.

.'.This application. is .atcontinuation'in'ipart of; my zfapplic'ation 'jiforrfstmlctural joints, Serial. No. -696;95.5,1filed.November 7., 1933.

In accordance with this invention,. each of the .members .to;be-.Lattached includes at least one 1 pair :of surfaces atiright angles to'each other. A aslip :joint is. provided :between the corresponding .surfaces of "each of themembers', which slipjoints :are operativeat ri'ghtranglesito .each other'to TQOIIIIECU'IOBJ. .disconnect the Tmembers. lThe vacon- .nection means rmountedronv the. tworsurfacestof -tonet1of 'isaid'fmembersi' are 'iresiliently related to reach other.

:Itzis-comm'on in the artrtof'whichithis invention :rpertainscto join the several: members "constitut- .1 r in'gtza .structure by. theiuse of. auxiliary fastenings .uponithe :strength: of'iwhichcthe strength: of the '1 izfioientire structure depends. The .obj ect: :of this. in-

'- ivention: is :to produce: a "structural jointz'in which no. .fasteningimember isrequired: andin which the strength of the jointtzmaybetimore .nearlythe @same as the'strength of. the 'membersithems'elves. 'fIhe ordinaryfastening manipulation requires the use ofaspecial toolsito .join' the structure 'and'in some cases is very difficult tosperform. Unfastaxing the ordinary ttypevof structural joint is oftentmorediflicult. It is another" object .of: this 1 invention: to produce a: structural j oint which may be connected :ordisconnected -with easerand without thezuse ofspecial tools.

. The. usual iastenings are :either rigid .asriveted joints and resist unfastening, are liable to loosening as bo'lted i jointspor are rigid in only one direction as simple slip ijoints. It. isanother objectof this'invention to produce a structural joint which is rigid'sin all directions, isnot liable to loosening, and which "may be readily. attached and: detached.

An ancilliary object of this invention is the provision of:a supplemental securing means for rendering impossible accidental 1 detachment: of thestructuraljoint constructed in accordance "with thisinventionyyet'in no way impedingthe 1 intentional detachment.

These and furtherobjects of this invention will r become-apparent from the' following specification -taken connection with 'the claims and the acz'companying drawings.

Metallic-structures which are used inithe-iabrication of houses,=are-customarily bolted orriveted together,--Et-he lattenmet-hod of connecting -beingi preferredv because of strength. I Riveting :may :be replaced 'insuch "structures by the use of theipresentlinvention in-Whichthe members constituting the structure maybe joined with- -out..the use: oferivets vors'bolts andiby: a .simple -:manipulation Small structures, such as metal-cabinets, metal furnitureyrm'etal. shelving; 'and=temp0rary metal. -';partitions, zrusually include-a frame work composed of members whicheare-separately'connected by rivets or bolts, etc. The .present.='invention contemplatestheza'abricationof such structures without requiringrthe use of 'irivets or. bolts.

: .Structural toys, in which the various. members :areassembled at onetime" to produce a certain structure and are laterrdisassembled and reassembled-:toiproduce zother:structures; customarily in-' clude'. fastening -devicesa'n-the nature of nuts and bolts and: clips zforzhol'ding the various members in predetermined position. Alternative arrangeuments: c-omprisingwariousltypes of slip and lock --joints"havewbeenirdevised for such "toys which, however, do not as a rulergivethe desired-degree fofiirigidity toi'the structuretiand' require isupplermental bracing? The. present invention contem- -:p1ates'the construction of'itoy outfits which may "be readily" assembled and 'disassembledwithout 1 "the use of'rcoi'inectingr fastenings andwhich shall be .rigidfwithout'requiring supplemental :bracing. z:lfntaccomplishingdzherprincipal object of this i-invention', a-rstructureis composed :of a numbernf lel'ongated :meznbers hereinafter termed angle members "connected" to each other by members which-wil1 izhereinafter: be .termed connection ninembers in. general, each "endzofathe' angle mnembers' which.asi'their namerimplies. are pref- ":zerablytrcomposed'riof 'two' elongated surfaces at :right: angles -"..to each" other, isiiprovided'. with one :1 .part of. the jointconstitutingithis invention. The x-connection nnembers have at least onezpairof "surfaces attri'ghtaangles toieach other, upon which surf aces :are .provided'the other .part of l the joint; 'llhe'fijointv is. a'icompound joint ccmposedio'f two icseparateslip joints,:one between each one ofithe surfaces. ':of 'the "angle "member. and the" corre- 'l'spon'dingsurface of the connection :member. 1 The relative'motiontbetweenl the-twocparts of each-bf the' two joints is *at right angles to that between the':parts of :the other. ..Thus,:each' joint prevents the motion of the two parts of the other joint' to disconnect thescompound joint. :iSuch tion between the two end surfaces of the angle member preferably by bifurcating the end of the angle member. The separate s'lip joints may I be composed of projections mounted upon the two surfaces of either part of the compound joint and ac-omplementary slit or hole in the two surfaces of the other part of the compound joint.

Preferably, the bifurcated ends of the angle member are bent at right angles to their respective surfaces and are received in complementary slots'cut in the two surfaces of the connection member.

Security of the structure is provided in accordance with this invention by providing'a slider or keeper adapted to slide'over the angle member before its attachment to the connection member,

and'then slide down adjacent the connection member after attachment, topreverit thelfela tive motion of the ends of the angle; member to withdraw the end portions from theslots in the connection member.

The keeper may be in the form of a special connection member and permit the attachment of a second angle member. This form of keeper may be used in any position intermediate the ends of an angle member and will thus permit the connection ofthe second angle member at any desired point.

Having thus briefly described the invention,

attention is invited to the accompanying drawings in 'whichf 1 'Fig. 1 is a perspective of an angle member and a corresponding connection member: adapted to be connected inaccordance with the principles of this invention;

Fig. 1a. is an end view of a keeper or slider constituting a part of this invention;

a Fig. 2 shows the joints of Fig. 1 connected;

Fig. 3 is a perspective showinga special keeper in the form of a special connection member;

' Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the uses of the special keeper shown in' Figure 3;

ing this invention with the members thereof disconnected and connected, respectively. In each of these figures, in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference character, the angle member 35 is an elongated member composed of two surfaces 36 and 3'! which are at right 7 angles to each other. The ends of the angle member are bifurcated to permit a relative motion of the angularly disposed end portions 38 of the surfaces3fi and3l. The motion of each end portion, however, is substantially limited to the direction normal to its surface and therefore fthe motion of the two' ends is substantially at 'right angles.

The tip of each end portion is formed or bent at right angles to its surface,

forming a pair of angularly disposed resiliently mounted lugs 39 which are for coaction, in a direction normal to surface 38 when the joint is connected, with the pair of complementary slots 49 formed 'in the corresponding surfaces of the connection member 4|. Thus a compound joint is formed composed of two slip joints formed between the lugs 39 and the slots 40, each of which slip joints operates at right angles relative to the other.

The joint is connected by placing the parts with the tips of the end portions 38 on the corner formed by the junction 43 of the surfaces of the connection 4| and with the lugs 39 in line with slots 40. Then the angle member is presseddown on the connection member, thus simultaneously moving the tips of the two end portions 38 in a direction normal to their respective surfaces. This separates the inner corners 39 of the lugs 39 to a position-to permit the lugs to coact simultaneously and enter the slots 40. The pressure then being relieved, the lugs snap back into position, as they enter the slots, with their inner corners 39 in their original position. This posi tion is shown in Fig. 2.

To disconnect the joint, the angle member is pressed between its bifurcated ends 38. This acts to spread the lugs and simultaneously remove them from their respective slots 40. An alterna tive method'of'disconnecting is to twist the angle member 35, about its axis, relative to connection member 45. This springs one of the lugs 39 out ofits slot 40, at which time the slip easily from its slot. i

When connected, the joint just described .is very rigid although no extremely accurate fit is required between the lugs 39' and the slots. This is because of the fact that a rotation of the angle member relative to the connection member about the line of contact of one lug with its.

slot is prevented by the coaction'of the other lug with its slot, which causes that end portion to act 7 as a brace. 7 Additional rigidity .and considerable security,

Qparticularly against accident-a1 detachment, and

against detachment by rotation may be secured by means of the keeper or slider 42. This keeper, which may have the form shown more clearly. in Fig. 1a, is slipped over. the end of the angle member 35 to the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the angle member may be attached to the connection member 4| without difflculty. After attachment, the keeper 42 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position, the ends 38 of the angle member cannot be moved to remove the lugs 39 from, the slots 40. The keeper may be retained in the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a pin 43' which may be of any appropriate form and may be inserted in the hole 44 in the angle memberi The keeper may be placed upon the angle member in the. reverse of the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but the securing effect thereof will be the same in both'cases.

In reversing the position'of the, keeper its position is reversed from left to right andfrom front to rear; Thus the portion of the keeper which is shown as surrounding the angle member will be around the interior angle of theangle member in the reversed. position, and the end portions which are shown as projecting into the interior angle will overlap the outside of the angle member in the reversed position.

The keeper may take the form of the special connection member shown in Fig. 3. Thismember includes akeeper portion 42', which is similar to the keeper 42, and an extension 45 attached as shown. a

The extension 45 has two portions 46, formed at right angles to the extension. Slots are provided upon the extension 45 and upon the portions 46.

The slot in either of the portions 46 may be used to form a pair with the slot 40 in the extension 45 by means of which an angle member may be attached to the special connection member with the vertical portion either to the front or to the rear as viewed in Fig. 3., The extension 45 may other lug will ,7

-.-be at any. angle vfromcanyzdesired portion ;ofv .the i keeper rportion -42 sand ithus: any. desired; .angle .may be providedbetween .ithe anglexmember :on

which 42 is-mounted and that which is attached 3 tothe'slots 40. .t'l'he-keeper'portion142? may be amounted upon an-anglegmemberyin the same posi- .by either of thesurfaces'36 or 31 .of the angle member 35. Thus an angle member may beattion as the keeper 42;shown;in Figs. 1 and 2 or *maybe: reversed. "Furthermore, whenthe keeper 42 is placed upon the angle member. the position ofithe extension 45maybe;.:in;the plane defined the angle member to cause a slight friction. Thus elements.

the connection member maybe placed at any desired position on the angle member to which itis attached to provide for the attachment of asec- 0nd angle member. Also, if the portion 33 is relatively narrow, the member .may be placed on the angle member at any point obviating the necessity of slipping it over the end thereof. To

do this, the portion-59 is placed in the desired position and the extension 45 is pressed down, resulting in the member 42" snapping into place around the angle member. "It can thus be seen that the special connection member shown in Fig. 3 can act either as aconnection member, a keeper, or as both.

It is to be noted that the angle member 35, which is shown as connected tothe right of the connection member in Figure2; may be attached to the left in the same mannerif desired.

It is obvious that additional pairs of angularly disposed complementary .slots may be provided in the connection member 4| of; Figs. 1 and 2 for coactionwith the lug or pin of'the end 38.

A connection member constructed in this manner is shown in Fig. 5. In the event two or more pairs of slots are provided in each surface of the member 4|, an angle member 35.may be connected in each direction using different sets of slots or holes. When a plurality of pairs of angularly disposed complementary holes or slots are provided in the connection member, the pairs of lugs or projections on the angle member may be inserted in any one of the pairs of slotsto permit obtaining various sized'structures from the same It a is further obvious that the lugs may be provided on the connection member and complementary slots provided on the angle member. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig-6. Also the connection member may have lugson one surface and slots on-the other,and the reverse on the angle member. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 7.

Although as shown in Fig. 1 the corners39 of the lugs 39 are shown as not-normallyinrcontact,- this position is not critical. The relative'position of these points depends upon thetdepth of these points from'the' inner surfaces of the angle member, the thickness of the material from which the connection member is made, and the positions of the inner corners 40 of the'slots 40 from the corner 43 of the connection; member 4|.

...A further. ;,modification .of ..the fundamental :connection member 4 I 4 :or; more sets. ofcpinsand holes. may .be=.provided,

1.structurezxmay.bezvmade. ,;The::ang1e:member..;3 5 :may bensupplied: with. onezor. more slots. or holes ::in:each"of1the :endsflil for; cooperation with pins mounted onithe: corresponding surfaces of the and eachof. the ends. 38 may .be provided with one or more slotsorsholes. and one orrmore .pins, and

.thertwo surfaces of 4 IV may. then be provided with corresponding pins .and slots or holes, respectively;v

Such an arrangement-is shownin FigrB.

The connection membersmaybe of. a number .oftypes to permitthe connection rof a. plurality of angle members.= indifferent directions, asdesired. .In each1member,:however, thesame reef quirement must be'rmade.

That is,za; pair of surfaces must be provided at right angles-with their junction 'runnings-in' the. desired" direction, and

one element of a compound slip joint must .be provided in each surface. adjacent. the junction;:120

. The exact shape of any ofthe-surfacesof-the connection members .is immaterial. Large connection membersrmay be provided having .surfaces at right angles to .eachiother wherever it. is

desired to attach angle members. .Any. of said surfaces may provide for-the. insertion .of shaft 'rods, screws, bolts or nuts wherever. desired.

The structural members constituting this invention should preferably be made 'of metal,

though wood fiber, bakelite, or any other. appropriate material may be used for any of the members. Also, angle .members or some of them 'may be constructed of one material and the connection members may beimade of another material.' Thus-1a table ,top: may be constructed of hard wood and the' legs of artable may be'constructed of metal.

Whenever the term .slip joint. is used in this specification and in the following claims, a joint is meant in which the two members are joined by a'simple relative motion involving the slipping of a part or'projection of one of said members within a complementary slot or hole in the other of said members, the relative motion of the members when joined vbeing limited to the reverse of the relative motion of the members in making the joint and possibly, also, a relative angular motion about the common axis of the connecting elements.

I claim:-

1. A structural joint which comprises a connection member andan angle member,-each of'said members having tWo-surfacesat right angles'to on the other surface .of the same member, whereby the first-mentioned connection means may be separated to a position to permit them to co-act simultaneously with the complementary connection means, by pressing said means upon the corner provided upon the other of said members by the junction of its-surfaces.

2. In a structural joint,'-an angle member having a bifurcated end forming two end portions, disposed-atsan angle of more than 45 and'less ..than..-135..to. each.other,-the tip of eachbfsaid For added strength, two

and a connection member including two surfaces at a corresponding angle to each other, each of said surfaces including the complementary part be connected to said connection member by simultaneously removing the tips of said end portions of said angle member relative to each other to permit each of said angularly disposed slip joints to operate at an angle toward each. other to connect said members.

3. In a. structural joint, an angle member ha ing a, bifurcated end forming two end portions, each disposed at an angle'of more than 45 and less than 135 to the other, the tip of each of said end portions including a lug, and a connection member including two surfaces at a corresponding angle to each other, each of said surfaces including complementary slots whereby said angle member may be connected to said connection member by simultaneously moving the tips of said end portions of said angle member away from each other to permit the pair of angularly disposed lugs to enter a corresponding pair of slots to connect said members. 7

4. In a structural joint, an angle member having a bifurcated end forming right angularly disposed end portions, pairs of projections on the tip of said end portion, and a connection member including two surfaces at right angles to each other, said surfaces including a plurality of pairsof complementary holes, whereby said angle i member may be connected to said connection 7 having a bifurcated end forming two end portions, one end portion lying in each of the planes of said angle member, the tips of each of said end portions including a projection for insertion into complementary holes in the other of said 'membersin a direction normal to the surface of tion member yet not aifecting the rigidity or security of said joint while said members are attached. V

7. In combination, a structural joint comprising two members having two slip joints operable at an angle to each other to connect said joint, and a keeper member slidably mounted on one of said members and movable to a position for preventing the operation of either or both of said slip joints to disconnect said joint, whereby unwanted disconnection of said joint is prevented.

8. In combination, ,a structural joint including a connection member, an angle member including portions relatively movable to connect said angle member to said connection member,

and keeper means slidably mounted on said angle member and movable to a position for preventing relative motion of said portions of said angle member, whereby unwanted detachment of said connection and angle membersis prevented.

. 9. In combination, a structural joint including a connection member, an angle member including portions relatively movable to connect said angle member to said connection member, movable keeper means movably mounted on said angle member and movableto a position thereon for preventing relative motion of said portions of said angle member, and means for securing of a second angle member thereto.

11. In combination, a structural joint includ ing a connection member, an angle member having portions relatively movable to connect said angle member to said connection member, and rigid keeper means operatively related to said angle member for preventing relative motion of.

said portions of said angle member, whereby detachment of said connection and angle members is prevented, said keeper means including three connection elements permitting the attachment of a second angle member thereto in either of two positions extending in the same direction.

12. In a structural joint, a connection member, an angle member, co-planar connection means mounted upon the two surfaces of said angle member for interlocking engagement with said connection member, and resilient mounting,

means for permitting a relative motion of said connection means.

13. In a. structural joint, an angle member having a bifurcated end forming two angularly disposed end portions, co-planar and inwardly extending connection means mounted upon said end portions.

14. In a structural joint, an angle member, a projection formed at the end of eachsurface of said angle member and extending inwardly thereof, said projections being co-planar, and means for permitting a relative motion of said projections.

7 15. In a structural joint, an angle member having a bifurcated end forming two angularly related end portions, at least one projecting connection member mounted upon each of said end portions, a projecting connection member on one of said end portions being co-planar with one on the other of said end portions, said connection members extending inwardly of said angle member.

7 16. In a structural joint, an angle member having a bifurcated end forming two angularly related end portions, a bent over lug portion at the end of each of said end portions, said lug portions each extending inwardly of said angle member, and being spaced fromthe apex of said angle member.

1'7. In a structural joint, an angle vmember having a bifurcated end forming two angularly related end portions, co-planar bent over lug portions at the end of said end portions, said lug portions extending inwardly of said angle member.

18. In combination, a structural joint comprising two members having two slip joints operable at an angle toward each other to connect said joint, and a keeper member surrounding and slidably mounted on one of said members and movable to a position for urging the portions of the slip joints embraced thereby toward each other for preventing the operation of said slip joints to disconnect said joint.

TERRY B. MOREHOUSE.

Patent No. 2,042,353 Granted May 26, 1936 TERRY BRYAN MOREHOUSE The above entitled patent was extended February 26, 1952, under the provisions of the act of June 30, 1950, for 5 years and 38 days from the expiration of the original term thereof.

Commissioner of Patents. 

